Jitka Starts a Fulbright Research Stay at Binghamton University

Today officially marks the beginning of my six-month Fulbright research stay at Binghamton University!

My journey to the U.S. actually started on foot — last week I crossed the Rainbow Bridge at Niagara Falls and entered New York State with a suitcase and a backpack, and a rather exciting six months ahead of me.

Thanks to the generous support of the Fulbright Program, I will spend the coming months at the School of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering at Binghamton University (State University of New York).

I am very grateful to Carlos Gershenson, who is hosting me, and I am looking forward to discussions and collaborations with Hiroki Sayama, Luis Rocha, and many other colleagues in Binghamton’s complex systems and Artificial Life community.

My main project here will focus on Artificial Life as the field approaches its 40th anniversary in 2027. I will be working on a book exploring its history, ideas, people, and future directions — from the first ALife workshop at Los Alamos in 1987 to today’s questions about artificial cells, origins of life, robotics, and complex systems. I also hope to connect these perspectives with my own experimental research on chemical droplets and “liquid robots” and to organize a hands-on workshop during my stay.

And, of course, I am slowly getting to know Binghamton itself. It is a small city, the campus is beautiful, autumn here promises to be very colourful — and I have already been warned that winter can bring some proper snow.

A new chapter begins. I am curious to see where the next six months will take me.

Thank you, Fulbright, for making this possible!